Qualia Mind Review: 6 Surprising Changes From the Original (and Why)

Almost two years ago I was introduced to Qualia and the Neurohacker Collective, which is one of the most comprehensive nootropic stacks that I found…

…but not without its flaws

In my initial review of Qualia I mentioned how intense the sensations were and the process that I needed in order to acclimate to the product, but also find what worked for me personally (note: I’m sensitive to substances of any kind).

Qualia Mind is their second product, which is more affordable and condensed than their original. While I’m still a fan of my Qualia Step 1 setup, there is value in their Qualia Mind nootropic and some of the changes that they have made.

Qualia Mind Ingredients and Changes

The number of ingredients that have made it into Qualia Mind are slightly over half what were in the original formula. In a review of Qualia Mind ingredients, there are 27 from the original formula and 1 new ingredient we’ll discuss below.

What stood out the most is what was NOT included in the Qualia Mind product:

Centrophenoxine

Noopept

Both of these are cholinergics currently in an unregulated gray area in the United States. It isn’t hard to imagine a large nootropics company like the Neurohacker Collective might feel more comfortable with a product free from potentially controversial products.

That being said, centrophenoxine and noopept are both powerful nootropics with solid scientific literature suggesting their efficacy (not always in healthy adults, though).

Replacing noopept is a natural nootropic from Ayurvedic tradition called celastrus paniculatus. Known as “the intellect tree” in northern Indian tradition, modern research has found it to be an exceptional nootropic ingredient (and a welcome if albeit less studied replacement to the cholinergics above).

Qualia Mind Axes Bioperine and Curcumin

The original Qualia stack included two particular ingredients with high reputability including piperine (in the bioperine form), which helps the bioavailability of curcumin. There is plenty of evidence to suggest this combination is helpful for reducing inflammation [1], boosting immune health [2], and general aging [3].

The only problem with piperine is how it interacts with MANY different drugs. Sometimes this is a good thing as is the case of CoQ10 (increasing absorption by 31.8%) vitamin C (52.3%) and beta-carotene (61.2%).

All these figures come from the BioPerine website with no verification, but there is verification that it also alters the metabolism of prescription drugs.

It is not advised to suppress an enzyme that breaks down the drugs for too long and taking Qualia every day with Bioperine may have caused some people unintended consequences. This was one of the reasons I suggested using Qualia on a cycling protocol (a couple times per week).

It’s nice to see that removed in Qualia Mind.

Easy on the Stimulants

From a theoretical perspective, the stimulant content in Qualia Mind is also reduced to my happiness. The culprits causing me some issues with Step 2 were Hordenine HCL and phenylethylamine HCL, which are both absent in the Qualia Mind ingredient deck. As some users of Qualia Mind have found out, this still may not do the trick…

Qualia Mind Review: Dialing in the Dosage

Qualia Mind is intense. Like the Qualia original stack, it can be a very intense and strong mental sensation that some people love and some people do not.

Unlike the Step 1 and Step 2 of the original stack, it is impossible to separate the two and avoid some of the ingredients that you do not like. However, it is possible to reduce the dosage from their recommendation.

The first time I tried 7 capsules of Qualia Mind it was so powerful I put it away and didn’t look at it for a solid 3 months. Far too intense of a mental and physical experience.

The second time I tried 4 capsules of Qualia Mind thinking I’d give it another chance at slightly over half the normal dose.

… still too strong

But a lot better than the first time.

At 3 capsules of Qualia Mind, it’s just right.

Today I’m using 3 capsules no more than 1 or 2 times per week, which means my routine makes a single $99 bottle of Qualia Mind last upwards of 6 months to 1 year.

This is a big win from both a financial and a personal health perspective. It is also a perfect example of how powerful customization for our own bodies and brains can be.

Each of us are unique and just because my experience with Qualia Mind only requires 3 capsules to get a similar effect that other people get from 7 doesn’t mean there is a “right” or “wrong” way of doing things.

Sensations vs Effective Dosing

The only real complaint or problem that arises from taking 3 capsules of Qualia Mind is the fact that some nootropic compounds are simply too reduced in their dosage to have much effect.

For example, consuming 43% of the dose means the L-theanine dosage is only 86 mg. The caffeine is only 38.7 mg (probably a good thing) and something like PQQ is only 4.3 mg.

A lot of the ingredients are no longer providing me with cognitive benefits in line with their effective dose. This is a shame, but part of the process.

Qualia Mind Review: Find What Works

Whether you are consuming Qualia, the new Qualia Mind, or any other nootropic stack (or ingredient) that is out there, it’s important to find the right dosage and specifications for you specifically.

Sometimes this means understanding why you are taking the nootropic supplement in the first place. Qualia Mind provides a perfect opportunity to customize aspects of this stack and include in your routine.

Pick up Qualia Mind and save 20% with the code NOOTROPEDIA. It's a heck of a lot easier to justify when using a few capsules per week 🙂

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Nootropedia

Nootropedia is meant to be a resource for individuals researching drugs and supplements that are good for brain health, otherwise known as nootropics, and thus we are the Nootropics Encyclopedia. Because of our in-depth coverage of this topic, our community has requested that we cover other brain health topics and "lifehacks" so that has become the focus of Nootropedia.

Qualia Mind

SUMMARY: Qualia Mind is a stack from Neurohacker Collective that has fewer (but some better) ingredients than the original split stack.